Swedish FM Linde visiting Georgia: ‘Sweden is a strong supporter of Georgia’s European future’
Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde has paid her first official visit to Georgia. Photo: Ann Linde’s press office.
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Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde visited Georgia earlier today, stating that her country is a ‘strong supporter’ of Georgian Euro-Atlantic integration.
During her meetings with the Georgian PM, president and foreign minister, Linde praised the efforts of the Georgian government to hold a free and transparent election and vowed that Sweden, as the future chair country of OSCE, will take further steps for a peaceful resolution of conflicts in Georgia.
Happy to be in #Georgia and meet with president @Zourabichvili_S, PM @GakhariaGiorgi and FM @DZalkaliani. Sweden is a strong supporter of Georgia’s European future. Democracy, human rights and the rule of law are primary advantages for EU approximation. pic.twitter.com/HQEww7PJgw
— Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) October 2, 2020
Linde’s meetings with Georgian top officials concerned Swedish and Georgian relations in bilateral and multilateral formats, conflicts in Georgia and in the region and upcoming, October 31 parliamentary elections.
Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia told Linde that while the whole world is fighting with the coronavirus, Russia continues its illegal occupation activities in Georgia.
Strong impressions from my field visit with the EU Monitoring Mission to the administrative boundary line today. Continued restrictions of movement affect local population. Sweden supports security and confidence-building through substantial support to @EUMMGeorgia. pic.twitter.com/f8eNQZIqFI
— Ann Linde (@AnnLinde) October 2, 2020
Gakharia said that the elections will be conducted in a free and transparent environment and despite the pandemic the Georgian government will ensure the ‘maximal presence’ of foreign observers and their safety.
Georgian FM David Zalkaliani has described the visit as “very timely and important.’
Welcome @AnnLinde to ????????! ????????remains a committed friend& supporter Geo’s European integration.????????welcomes upcoming ???????? Chairmanship in OSCE also participation in new initiative of ???????? “Friends in Defence of democracy” as appreciation of Geo’s achievements on the path of democracy pic.twitter.com/xS8vpYuOaA
— David Zalkaliani (@DZalkaliani) October 2, 2020
Sweden is preparing for chairmanship of OSCE and it is of utmost importance for OSCE to be more actively involved in the conflict resolution,” Zalkaliani said, adding that Georgian conflict issues should be on top of OSCE agenda.
Linde praised Georgia for meeting with OSCE/ODIHR election recommendations, adoption of constitutional changes and the efforts of the Georgian government to ensure the presence of foreign observers for the elections.
Sweden has been a committed and strong partner of Georgia for years. With Sweden being one of the initiators of the #EasternPartnership, we remain thankful and look forward to our deeper partnership on the #RoadtoEurope. ???????? ???????? ???????? pic.twitter.com/NbZb1ISCqt
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) October 2, 2020
She said that Swedish observers will be present in the OSCE/ODIHR election mission.
Linde said that conflict resolution in the OSCE region will be top priority for Sweden as the chair country of the organisation.
The EU, Sweden and Austria are calling for grant proposals under the Tourism Development Initiative (TDI) in tourism development for the mountainous Georgian municipalities of Mestia, Lentekhi, Tsageri, Oni, Ambrolauri, Sachkhere, Chiatura and Tkibuli.
The European market is ready to import the products of Georgian companies, said Erik Illes, the Head of Development Cooperation and Deputy Head of the Embassy of Sweden adding that “there is lots of potential.” He urged Georgian companies to work in networks and share experience about trying to access the European market.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has visited Sweden for the first time in eight years, having held meetings with the State Secretary to Minister for EU Affairs Paula Carvalho Olovsson, head of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Carin Jamtin and members of the Georgian diaspora.
The ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, The Greens Movement of Georgia and the nongovernmental organization Keep Georgia Tidy (KGT) begins implementing of a new project “Keep Georgia Tidy” with the support of Sweden government.
OSCE chairwoman Ann Linde visited Georgia earlier today and reaffirmed the OSCE’s ‘strong support’ to Georgia in resolving conflicts and strengthening institutions. She has already met with Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani and the country’s civil society representatives. Linde, who is Swedish FM, has stated that peaceful resolution of Russian-Georgian conflict is among the priorities of Sweden’s chairmanship of OSCE.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday held a farewell meeting with the Swedish Ambassador to Georgia, Ulrik Tideström, with the latter’s diplomatic term in the country coming to a close.